CHATKA

Riccardo Zappa

Rock Progressivo Italiano

3.34 | 26 ratings

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Andrea Cortese
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator

With his second record, Zappa introduces the listener to a more classic opus. Eight shorter tunes, seemingly simpler in structure because of the more acoustic temper than its predecesessor.

The opener "Emphasis" (6,23 mns) is one the most favourite of mine: its first 58 "measures" are freely inspired to two ancient "ricercari" by XVI century lutanist Juan Maria da Crema. An elegant and impressing acoustic composition rich of classic flavour.

In "St. Dumont" (6,04 mns) Zappa plays his famous "Ovation" guitar helped this time by Tullio De Piscopo on "fast and furious" drums in the last two minutes. Another memorable tune.

"La Chitarra a Pila" (5,20 mns) starts with some synth' sound provided by well known italian keyboardist Vince Tempera (ex Il Volo). The song is exciting, flowing, dreamy.

"Chatka" (3,40 mns) opens with that famous tapping on acoustic guitar and was the most played tune on radio at the time the album was released. It starts the b-side in a more "conventional" vein with other (excellent) short track about three minutes each: "Vivre", the wonderful "Eleila", "Piraeus" - the first of a long serie of Greecian quotes by Zappa in his works and the closer "Numero Unico" which features few sparse vocals (with no lyrics) by Lella Rosnati.

That new three minutes' standard assured the album a great airplay and success.

The result is still very convincing even if it seems to be not at the level of the previous masterpiece "Celestion". I've never heard before to something similar, though, and that's why Zappa (Riccardo) deserves more wider aprreciation, larger number of aficionados and high levels of ratings! An excellent record. Recently re-issued on BTF records in elegant papersleeve cd format (as with Celestion).

Andrea Cortese | 4/5 | 2006-6-24

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